A 58-year-old woman tragically drowned at Paignton beach on Christmas Day, leaving her family heartbroken and raising concerns about mental health support.
Paignton: A tragic incident occurred on Christmas Day when a 58-year-old woman drowned at the beach. Her family received the heartbreaking news that she had been found in the sea.
The woman, Sally Cranch, had planned to enjoy Christmas lunch but changed her mind. On December 23, she broke down in tears while driving with her son, Matthew. They returned home, and later that day, Sally left without saying goodbye.
When she didn’t return, her children went looking for her. They later learned from police that a woman’s body had been recovered from the water. Sadly, her death was confirmed early on Christmas morning.
A coastguard witnessed Sally entering the water fully clothed around 3:50 PM. Initially, he thought she was swimming, but then he saw her struggling. He believed she was drowning and called for help.
Emergency services rescued her, but they couldn’t revive her. A doctor noted that Sally had been dealing with stress and anxiety but had not expressed suicidal thoughts. She had recently started a new job caring for children, which she found stressful.
Her daughter, Emma, mentioned that Sally was looking forward to spending time with family on Christmas Eve. No suicide note was found, and the coroner stated that Sally’s intentions were unclear.
The DevonLive Shatter the Silence campaign aims to encourage open conversations about mental health. They want to help reduce suicide rates in Devon and provide resources for those in need.
If you or someone you know is struggling, there are many support services available, including Samaritans and NHS mental health services. It’s important to reach out and talk.
